Job Discussion Forums

stoth1972

Yeah yeah-I know! It's an ESL site, but I'm asking you overlook my non-esl question just this once. Smile

I'm going back to the UAE in January to visit friends, so obviously I'll be on a visitor's visa. I would like to drive to Oman to visit a friend there, as well. How easy/hard is it for tourists of the UAE to get into Oman by road?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I do believe that tourists can get a visa at the border crossing. You might want to visit the Lonely Planet website. They have a board similar to this called the Thorntree. They are usually current on this type of question.

If you rent a car, be sure to tell them you plan to drive it to Oman so that the insurance is correct.

VS

stoth1972 · Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:21 pm Post subject:

Thanks, VS! I knew you'd know!

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

recently, in the last 4-6 weeks. According to that article, you can only cross into Oman from UAE if you are a GCC national/resident or have a UAE residence visa. That being said, it may not apply at some of the more remote border crossings. However, I do have an acquaintance, Omani resident, who picked up her mother at Dubai airport and tried to return to Oman via Hatta and they were turned back. Mom had to fly into Muscat - don't know what the difference was between a land crossing and the airport entry.

So, check it out if you can before arriving at the border or be prepared to treat it as a nice day out (go to the Hatta Fort Hotel for lunch or even stay overnight) if they won't let you across.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I just glanced at the Thorntree and tourists seem to be getting visas at the border with no problem. I didn't do a search... just glanced at the first page.

It depends on nationality. (as usual)

VS

stoth1972 · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 7:17 am Post subject:

I recall what Helen said as being the way it was when I lived there-a resident could cross easily, but tourists had different requirements. Looks like a lot of good info on Thorn Tree, though. Thanks for the suggestion!

stoth1972 · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 7:20 am Post subject:

Helen, what article are you referring to?

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

it was referring to border crossings (possibly in connection with the new developments in Buraimi/Al Ain). Four years ago I know it was possible to cross with a UAE visit visa but this article said that new regulations were in place now. Just check before you go (if you can) and be prepared to be turned back (if you can't).

stoth1972 · Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:04 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the feedback-some think it may depend on your passport. Waiting to hear from Omani tourism board (crickets).

yaramaz · Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 3:45 am Post subject:

I just did that trip by road, and I am a tourist to UAE. I got my visa the day before in Dubai so we wouldnt be held up too long at the border due to Eid traffic, but I did see plenty of other tourists getting their visas at the border near Hatta. Seemed pretty straightforward. The visa was 6 rials for a single entry.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Where did you go besides Nizwa, Yaramaz? How long were you there? Fascinating country, isn't it?

I'm sure Stoth won't be bothered by a related hijack. Cool

VS

yaramaz · Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 5:46 am Post subject:

VS, we did a lovely roundabout road trip, camping in wadi bani auf, wahiba sands, ras al jins (but gave the turtles a miss due to the massive eid crowds), muscat, nizwa, wadi bani khalid, jebel shams, and lots of places in between. It's a lovely country and I am now plotting a way to come work there permanently... Where were you? Muscat? I have read your posts about how much you love Oman and now I totally understand!

tiberio · Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 56

the deal with only GCC citizens only applies to the one border in the centre of Al Ain (the direct way into Bureimi), using any other crossing near Al Ain (Meziyad or the one by the camel market) is fine. Back and forth, no problem, visitor visa or residence visa. I have done the trip on my residence visa as well as on my second passport without the visa a few times. No problem at all. 20 dirhams exit fee in UAE, 6 Rial entry into Oman, no more exit fee in Oman, they stopped it some weeks ago in the process of upgrading Bureimi into a federal state.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

How about the old crossing that was a few kilometers down the road to Sohar... are things still the same there? As I recall it bypassed Buraimi...

Yaramaz: Yes, both of my stints in Oman, I worked in Muscat. There were few jobs out in the smaller towns then, and to be honest they wouldn't have appealed to me. Muscat itself is mostly a quiet sleepy place, but I like to be near the airport and good super markets. Laughing

When you get serious about job searching, drop me a PM...

VS

NadiaK · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 206

Stoth, which border crossing are you intending to use?